UNMISSING

4 stars out of 5

I can't say the basic story is all that unique - a woman goes missing, is declared dead but turns up very much alive a decade later - but the details, including a couple of gobsmacking twists, give this one an edge that makes it quite entertaining and hard to put down. The victim is Lydia Coletto, who got married a relatively short time before her abduction; after 10 years of being held captive and tortured, she escapes - and shows up on her husband's doorstep. Problem is, that same husband had her declared dead years ago and is now married to another woman, Merritt, with whom he has a young daughter and a son on the way. Can you say oops?

For her part, Lydia insists she's just looking for some kind of closure;
understandably, Luca and Merritt are shaken to the core, but they vow to do what they can to help Lydia (except, of course, anything that would seriously damage their marriage). Over the years, they've built a successful business in the restaurant industry, in the process becoming rather wealthy and able to live a cushy lifestyle. They're not sure exactly what Lydia wants from them, but they decide to befriend her for the time being (figuring, I suppose, that it's easier to catch a fly with honey than vinegar).

Chapters alternate from the perspectives of Lydia and Merritt, so readers get a look inside their heads as the story builds. I must say I was never fond of Merritt, who seems quite a controlling (but a bit paranoid) woman. Similarly, I never quite trusted Lydia, especially when she ignored solid advice from a new friend and sets off in her own direction. But as the book description hints, more than one character has a secret - and let me tell you, a couple of them are doozies.

My only disappointment is the ending; it seemed a bit abrupt, and I would like to have learned more about what happens to a couple of the characters. But that said, it was quite enjoyable and I thank the publisher, via NetGalley, for allowing me to read and review a pre-release copy. 

Unmissing by Minka Kent (Thomas & Mercer, February 2022); 251 pp.